Why must caloric intake be lowered as body mass decreases while following this diet?

Answer

The basal metabolic rate (BMR) decreases because there is less mass to maintain.

The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) represents the minimum number of calories required to sustain vital bodily functions while at rest. As a person loses weight, they have a smaller total body mass that needs energy to be maintained. Consequently, the BMR naturally decreases in proportion to the lower body weight. If an individual continues to consume the exact same caloric load that produced a deficit when they weighed significantly more (e.g., 220 pounds), those same calories may now only be sufficient to meet the lowered maintenance needs at the new, lighter weight (e.g., 180 pounds). Therefore, failure to reduce intake downwards as weight is lost leads directly to a plateau because the initial deficit no longer exists.

Why must caloric intake be lowered as body mass decreases while following this diet?
dietweightCarnivore